In April, as the season blooms with the freshness of spring, vibrant energy fills university sports and the Chungcheong 2027 FISU World University Games Organizing Committee (CHUOC) keeps taking significant steps forward in its preparations for the Chungcheong 2027 FISU Games.

During its inaugural meeting on March 28, appointment letters were presented to 36 sport managers of 18 sports (including three optional sports).  These managers were selected based on recommendations made by the national sports federations of Korea from a pool of experts with vast experience in organizing sports for international sporting events. Highly proficient in their respective fields, the sport managers have been tasked with the overall management of competition-related preparations and operations, as well as advisory roles. Specifically, their key responsibilities include coordinating disciplines for each sport, event schedules, identifying staff requirements and specifying sports equipment.

At the meeting, they received an overview of the Chungcheong 2027 FISU Games' operations, followed by a preliminary discussion on competition events. During the session, the sport managers agreed to carefully consider previous international sporting event precedents, recent trends, and the condition of venues in the Chungcheong region. This consideration will guide their selection of competition events.

Moving forward, CHUOC plans to finalize the competition events through ongoing discussions with the sport managers and in consultation with the national and international sports federations for each sport. This will allow them to proceed with major undertakings, such as venue constructions, on schedule while ensuring seamless preparation of the games operation support services based on the estimated participation of student athletes and officials.

Meanwhile, the Korea University Sport Federation kicked off the College Sports U-League for sports such as baseball, basketball, soccer, soft tennis, and volleyball. And the mascot development of the Chungcheong 2027 FISU Games officially begun. The aim is to represent its essence and aspirations, alongside the official emblem. On April 16, the Mascot Development Kickoff Report Meeting was held, attended by about 30 participants from various sectors, including representatives from city and provincial sports departments, the CHUOC expert advisory panel, designers, and the media.

The session featured a presentation by the mascot development contractor, a Q&A session, and discussions. During the presentation, the criteria for mascot development were outlined, emphasizing qualities such as approachability, creativity, artistic excellence, symbolism, and product branding potential. It was noted that mascots for international sporting events often feature native animals or cultural heritage. Designers and experts agreed that the mascot should capture the essence of the four Chungcheong cities and provinces, have lasting appeal beyond the games, and resonate with diverse audiences at home and abroad.

CHUOC plans to incorporate expert feedback into the mascot's development process and reveal the final design by the end of this year. The mascot will be used for promotional and marketing activities, contributing to the successful execution of the games.

The university student supporters, aimed at promoting the Chungcheong 2027 FISU Games from the perspective of university students, also have been launched, and CHUOC held the inaugural ceremony for the first group of university student supporters on March 29 at the Sejong Convention Center in Sejong City.

Comprising 30 university students from Daejeon City, Sejong City, Chungcheongbuk-do Province, and Chungcheongnam-do Province, the supporters will shoulder the responsibility of supporting and promoting the Chungcheong 2027 FISU Games both online and offline. They will actively participate in the games-related events and activities leading up to the games while utilizing their social media channels to spread updates about the Chungcheong 2027 FISU Games.

The inaugural ceremony began with the presentation of appointment certificates, followed by an educational session on facilitation techniques aimed at exploring strategies for effectively promoting the Chungcheong 2027 FISU Games. After the session, participants actively engaged in an interactive dialogue with a marketing and communications expert, brainstorming ideas for the supporters' group names and promotional strategies for the Chungcheong 2027 FISU Games.

Many university students dedicated to sports and their hometowns applied for the supporters recruitment, including Ms. Kwon Ji-yeon from the Department of International Studies, Chungnam National University. Kwon expressed her determination, saying, "I am really glad I can be a part of this effort, and I am committed to globally promoting the Chungcheong 2027 FISU Games to exert a positive influence through the unique power of sport and the charm of Chungcheong."

Many university students dedicated to sports and their hometowns applied for the supporters recruitment, including Ms. Kwon Ji-yeon from the Department of International Studies, Chungnam National University. Kwon expressed her determination, saying, "I am really glad I can be a part of this effort, and I am committed to globally promoting the Chungcheong 2027 FISU Games to exert a positive influence through the unique power of sport and the charm of Chungcheong."

CHUOC held the first meeting of the Chungcheong physical education teachers' consortium on April 18 in the organizing committee's conference room. The consortium's mission is to heighten awareness and establish promotional strategies aimed at students in the Chungcheong region. 14 members, including physical education commissioners and teachers from four cities and provinces of Chungcheong region, as well as CHUOC members, were brought together for the consortium.

The appointment ceremony took place at the first meeting, along with discussions on strategies to connect the FISU Games, schools, and communities. The key agenda included developing engaging educational content related to the games for the physical education curriculum and designing games promotional activities that seamlessly blend with regional and school sports and cultural events.

Drawing from their accumulated experiences working with students in the educational field, the consortium members proposed a range of ideas for developing impactful educational materials, which CHUOC plans to actively integrate into its initiatives.

Recently, CHUOC collaborated with the Organizing Committee of the Winter Youth Olympic Games Gangwon 2024 and conducted a two-day debriefing session on the Gangwon Youth Olympic Games to leverage the insights gained from their experience.

Held on March 28 and 29, the debriefing examined all aspects of planning and operations of the Gangwon Games, highlighting both best practices and encountered challenges. The goal was to ensure the transfer of knowledge and experiences and to pave the way for success at the Chungcheong 2027 FISU Games.

During the first part of the debriefing, Mr. Lee Gwan-pyo, director general of the planning of the Gangwon organizing committee, stressed the importance of close cooperation among host cities, ongoing communication among ministries and institutions, staff motivation, and effective media management for the success of the Chungcheong 2027 FISU Games.

In the latter part of the session, experts from nine key areas, including opening and closing ceremonies, competition venues, athletes' village operation, promotion, and host broadcaster selection and broadcasting rights sales, shared their insights with CHUOC members based on their games experience. Together with the experts, CHUOC members explored implementation strategies and charted future course of action for the Chungcheong 2027 FISU Games.

CHUOC aims to further develop the insights gained from the debriefing session, tailor them for the Chungcheong 2027 FISU Games, and ensure another stepping stone toward the successful organization of the Chungcheong 2027 FISU Games.